This unit provides a critical introduction to the philosophies, principles and practices of juvenile justice and child protection. The interface between juvenile justice and child protection is well established, institutionally, historically and in terms of shared clients, and an informed and multi-agency approach to service provision is required across and within each domain.

The unit considers the place of children and young people within Australian society from the perspective of the UN Convention of the Rights of the Child, explores the institutional pathways pertaining to juvenile justice and child protection (including relevant risk assessment and intervention processes), the role of the Children's Court in juvenile justice and child protection, the nature of youth friendly services and the complex role of service providers, and the dynamics of policy and practice in an era of fiscal constraint and individualised responsibility.

The unit is designed to offer theoretically informed understanding of current approaches as well as substantive applied knowledge of system processes and client needs. It provides a platform for intellectual development and critical reflection, as well as applied skills relating to field report writing, use of case notes and navigating complex institutional systems.